A few words about pit bulls

Few creatures in the animal kingdom seem to generate as much heated comment as pit bulls, but L.A. Unleashed would like to remind readers (and the staff of L.A. Unleashed) that the so-called bully breed has many, many, many defenders. Two cases in point:

Last week, the Orange County Register reported that an owner advocacy group was furious about a Verizon Wireless TV commercial "in which two American pit bull terriers –- commonly known as pit –- bulls are portrayed as vicious guard dogs." The group calls itself ROVERlution.

The 30-second commercial has a young man climbing over a chain-link fence into a junkyard, attempting to obtain the Verizon LG Dare phone. He awakens two pit bulls, which are tied down with metal choke collars.

The dogs bark ferociously and lunge at the intruder. The dogs get within inches of the man before being yanked to a halt because the chains don't extend far enough.

A Verizon statement says the commercial with the dogs "is no longer on the schedule."

In the meantime, the newest issue of "Bark," which bills itself as "the modern dog culture magazine," takes a thoughtful look at an organization called BAD RAP, Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls. Last year, the magazine reports, founders Donna Reynolds and Tim Racer were "among the nine experts asked by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to help evaluate 49 of the dogs seized from Michael Vick's Bad Newz kennels and held in Virginia-area shelters."

Yes, we know that if you sign up for a "Google alert" on "animal attacks," many of the headlines involve pit bulls, but it's tough to read the article in Bark and dismiss the notion of redemption. "The personal stories of dogs -- dogs redeemed from dreadful captivity, with no interest in fighting, joyously learning to be with people -- have touched many hearts."

-- Alice Short

Photo: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Rochelle]

There may be many attacks on people by pit bull terriers, however I do feel that they are unfairly represented in the media. It seems as though all dog attacks reported here in New Zealand involve a pit bull terrier - guilty until proven innocent seems to be the mentality - we had an incidence in just the last week or two involving a 13 year old boy attacked by four pit bull/greyhound crosses as he was riding his bike along the road outside of the owners property. The dogs were destroyed the next day. If you visit any pet forum on the internet you will see comments written by pitty owners about how great their dogs are with kids, adults and around other dogs. It looks as though, once again, it is the owner to blame for encouraging the aggressive behaviour that the pittys are prone to.

[Brien Comerford]

Pit Bulls are innately tame and very loyal. The unpardonable criminals that make them vicious traumatize them and destroy their benign natures.

[Michael]

The media most certainly demonizes the pit bull breed as the root of all evil in animal attacks -- however that simply is not accurate. The problem is the popularity of the breed among malfeasant members of our society who want to exploit their physical characteristics to create a vicious animal. Treated well, pit bulls are excellent, loyal, and safe pets and friends. We need to investigate owners and establish strong laws to prohibit the training of animals for violent ends -- not only the pit bull, but other animals as well. Forcing animals to be unnaturally violent is a problem of human society, not an issue with a specific breed of dog. If we eradicate the pit bull, the problem will only move on to another breed.